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May’s day to atone but Power stars avoid suspension

Key Port Adelaide trio Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett and Charlie Dixon have escaped with slaps on the wrist for their undisciplined actions in Sunday’s drubbing by GWS, but Gold Coast defender Steven May is set to feel the wrath of the AFL tribunal.

Apr 19, 2016, updated Apr 19, 2016
Lions players remonstrate with Steven May after his hit on Stefan Martin. Photo: Glenn Hunt, AAP.

Lions players remonstrate with Steven May after his hit on Stefan Martin. Photo: Glenn Hunt, AAP.

Having conceded the crime, May will tonight find out his time, as he fronts the panel in person tonight to account for the heavy bump that concussed Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin.

He will most likely receive a five-game ban, at least.

Gray and Dixon were fined $1000 apiece for striking, while Hartlett copped the same penalty for rough conduct against Giants midfielder Ryan Griffen.

But May was referred directly to the tribunal, with no chance of an early plea, for the incident during Saturday’s match.

He has a bad tribunal record, having also received a three-game suspension last year for rough conduct against Brisbane’s Tom Rockliff.

And the Lions skipper has little sympathy for May ahead of the tribunal hearing.

“I wasn’t over the moon about it to be honest,” Rockliff told SEN.

“If he had not got him high and played the footy then you don’t have an issue with it, but when you go past the ball and make the contact to his head then you’re going to be in a fair bit of trouble.

“He was remorseful after it happened and apologised which was good, but if you do the crime, you do the time.

“He’s made it very interesting for the next QClash, that’s for sure.”

The match review panel rated May’s rough conduct charge as careless conduct with severe impact to the head.

One factor that could help May is that Martin received no serious injuries from the impact.

He could play for the Lions on Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

May should be the only player to front this week’s tribunal hearing, with West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett set to accept a one-game striking suspension, while the other seven players facing charges can all accept $1000 fines.

-AAP

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